Programs
(Click to goto the program below)
Staff Training Program
Multicultural Potters Wheel Demonstration Program
Potters Wheel Assembly Program
Multi-Cultural Hands-On Program
Native American Hand building Program
Murals and Applied Arts Program

See our specialized Staff/Faculty training page

Staff Training Program

Pictures comming soon

Staff Development Program Document .

Multicultural Potters Wheel Demonstration Program

Multi-cultural Potter’s Wheel Demonstration Program Document .

All projects may be related to multicultural themes, as desired.

Clay in the classroom provides a satisfying, tangible activity for your students to enjoy an emotional connection to their artwork, and its context in a historic and cultural dimension.

We give the teachers a hands-on experience of working in clay. The best way to problem-solve with your students is to know the limits of the materials, and how to address the student’s work-in-process.

go back to top

Potter’s Wheel Demonstration Program Document .

I use the potters wheel as a tool to generate large scale pottery forms. I touch on many
cultures during the a 45 - 60 minute wheel demonstration program. Students will not all be
making a piece to take home but will be part of a group effort.

The Demonstration Program will address many cultures or be curriculum specific. So many
stories and history of the various cultures are told through the clay pot. This program will address
how these 'stories' manifests in the various cultures and how each culture has design
characteristics that are specific to that culture.

The Wheel program is a great catalyst to get connected to the visual and design language
of many cultures at one time, as well as, an inspiration for their 3d work to follow during the rest of
the year.

go back to top

Multi-Cultural Hands-On program

Multi-cultural Hands-On Program Document .

The hands on program is a great follow up to the wheel program for those schools that want
to bridge the gap between knowledge from the wheel program to the actual experience of working
with the materials to create their own unique piece of ceramics.

All students make a finished piece during this program. It opens up the diversity of the themes that can be created to meet the needs of the individual schools curriculum.
The multicultural hands-on programs explores the uniqueness of a particular culture through making a variety of traditional three dimensional forms in ceramics.
Cultures included are Native American, Asian, Japanese, Egyptian, African, and Greece.

go back to top

Native American Hand building Program Program

Native American Hand building Program Document .

Students will be constructing a vase that will be decorated with native designs
and patterns.
As with many cultures, coil containers were used as storyboards to record our
history. Clay coil containers were written on with artwork, very old alphabets, and
designs that have revealed a great deal about human history.

These pots came in all
shapes and sizes. While constructing the coil containers students are embarking on a
practice that has been shared by many cultures for many purposes. Vases are versatile
containers that can be used for a variety of purposes.

They come in many shapes and
sizes, so as you build your coils, find a shape that you like and be creative. Visit the web
pages to identify a specific kind of design, and then recreate the styles and patterns that
they find. Maybe your designs will reveal something about you to your classmates.

This lesson will provide you with a better understanding of art and culture, as well
as the time and energy it takes to create a functional pot.

go back to top

Murals and Applied Arts Program

Murals and Applied Arts Program Document .

It has been a very fulling experience to see students take pride in seeing their hand made
tiles permanently installed in the school.

Tile murals are a great vehicle to work individually for the collective communal goal. The
end is greater than the sum of the parts. It can also be used as an architectural element
permanently installed in the school setting.

Students learn that different cultures have developed similar techniques, yet the tiles
have purpose and design unique to each culture There are many subjects and imagery
that are very poignant today that can take a subject from the past and make it relevant
today. Native American connection to nature or the rain forest theme.

ie. The Rain forest theme could include the science and social studies/geography
curriculum that one might find a rain forest, as well as the political issues that surround
its most important ecology. The Native American tile mural is an example of a great
theme representing respect for nature and how rich geometric patterns and symbol

go back to top